Rochester, Lockington and Colbinabbin community groups are planning to heavily promote the use of outdoor pools in the three towns after the recent Campaspe Shire announcement that admission would be free throughout the 2022-23 swim season.
Campaspe Shire declared all seven outdoor pools would operate under free entry conditions for the 2022-23 swim season, which in January this year were scheduled to be the last for several of the pools.
A reprieve for the pools was followed by the announcement that there would be a six month delay to the May 2023 decision announcement that was attached to the original set of conditions.
A decision on the future of Campaspe Shire’s outdoor pools is now not expected to be made until late in 2023, following on from the completion of Place Based Plans and Township Facility Plans.
Council last week announced that applications were now open for membership of planning committees for Rochester, Colbinabbin and Lockington.
In the mean time, the focus has shifted onto the three communities making the most of the fast approaching free swim season.
Rochester Business Network is planning to erect signage on the Gillies Street frontage of the outdoor pool promoting the free admission.
The organisation is also hopeful that the pool will become a central meeting point during the summer months – Campaspe shire outdoor pools are due to open on Saturday, November 26 – for families celebrating the warm weather and holiday season.
Paul Romer, secretary of Rochester Swimming Club, has been involved with the swimming club at Rochester for three years, but was a competitive swimmer as a teenager and worked at the outdoor pool for several years.
He began his involvement at the historic pool site from the age of 11 and started working at the site in 2005.
He continued a career in aquatics after high school and was excited about the free admission announcement by Council late last month.
He said he expected the change in operating hours to have a major impact on pool use.
The pool will now be open until 8pm, an hour longer than the previous summer.
“We used to have a lot of families come in between 6pm and 8pm. It allowed parents who work to get home and still have time to organise the family for a trip to the pool,” he said.
“People traditionally eat a little later in summer and these hours will also suit that change.”
Mr Romer said he expected an increase in pool use numbers – as a result of the free admission – to facilitate future discussions between the community and shire.
“Once the use of the pools increases, then we can talk about what is available to the community from a swim facility point of view,” he said.
Rochester Swimming Club is currently rebuilding its swim program and said the free admission would remove a barrier for families to have their children involved.
“Normally they would need to pay entry fees for the pool and then the swim club membership on top of that,” he said.
“This will remove that financial obstacle.”
Mr Romer encouraged families to plan to use the outdoor pool for birthday parties, family gatherings and other special events.
“If you are planning a get-together, why not have it down at the swim pool,” he said.
“I really hope we can bring back the family atmosphere that the pool was well known for not that long ago.”
Mr Romer urged Council to consider the use of inflatables and other forms of entertainment during the summer swim season.
“There is no diving board, no inflatables – it’s just a hole in the ground filled with cold water,” he said.
“I’d like to see the shire promote special days, such as Christmas day and New Year’s Day and hopefully have something happening at the pool.”
Mr Romer said young kids needed a little bit more than just a cold water pool.
“I’d really like to see some entertainment,” he said.
As for the swimming club, Mr Romer said that, in previous years, there had been competitive swimmers come into Rochester from outlying towns to participate with the club.
“There has been a bit of a decline, due to the cold weather and cost of living pressures, ” he said.
“The pool hasn’t been open because of the temperature, it hasn’t helped us to be attractive to kids.”
“Hopefully this major change in cost for the pool will make a difference.”